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The Megaupload case continues, and on Friday attorneys for the U.S. government made some interesting claims. They were in court to argue against a request to dismiss the indictment against Megaupload that was raised on the grounds that Megaupload has no U.S. address. After a debate about jurisdiction and precedent, this happened:
"The government also argued that it could keep Megaupload in legal limbo indefinitely. 'None of the cases impose a time limit on service,' the government's attorney told the judge. Therefore, the government believes it can leave the indictment hanging over the company's head, and keep its assets frozen, indefinitely. Not only that, but the government believes it can continue to freeze Megaupload's assets and paralyze its operations even if the judge grants the motion to dismiss. That's because in the government's view, the assets are the proceeds of criminal activity and the prosecution against founder Kim Dotcom will still be pending. The fact that the assets are in the name of Megaupload rather than its founder is of no consequence, the government claimed."

Civil forfeiture is a key part of the war on drugs. If not for it, you could practically buy illegal drugs at will. I'm more than willing to give up some rights considering how much safer this makes us all.

Umpteen years ago, I read that during the middle ages animals and even the weather were sometimes brought to court to answer for their crimes. I think, I understand now the motivation behind charging a pig with, say, heresy. In a word: Bacon.